IES20070744A2 - A respirator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a respirator comprising a mask body; a pair of attaching means attached to the mask body at opposing sides; and a detachable strap connectable between the pair of attaching means. <Figure 2>

Description

The present invention relates to respirators. More particularly, the invention relates to a respirator designed for ease of use.

Background to the Invention Respirators are used in a variety of industrial, medical and agricultural environments. There are several different types of respirators on the market. These include disposable respirators, which are specifically designed to be thrown away after a single use.

A typical disposable respirator or mask comprises a cup shaped main body with two straps spaced apart from each other, each strap connecting one side of the mask to the other. The straps may either be formed from latex, or be latex-free. An example of such a respirator is shown in Figure 1.

One disadvantage with the design of such respirators relates to the difficulty which a user can experience when affixing the mask. A user is required to hold the mask with one hand in the desired position over their face, while at the same time extending the straps over their head with their other hand until both straps are positioned comfortably around the back of their head. As each end of the straps is permanently affixed to a side of the mask, the straps must be stretched in order to position them around the back of the head. It will be appreciated that this procedure can be quite difficult to perform.

Another disadvantage with the design of a typical respirator relates to the storage of the respirator when it is temporarily not required by a user. One option is to raise the mask above the nose and mouth area, and position it around the forehead. Another option is to lower the mask so that it is attached around the neck. However, it has been found that to wear the mask in either of these two positions can be uncomfortable. Alternatively, a user can of course remove the mask completely from their head. However, due to the cup shaped design of the mask, it is not possible to store it in a pocket without causing damage, while storage of a mask near a workstation may result in contamination or loss of the mask. This therefore places the onus on a user to ensure that the mask is stored in a safe place where it will not be damaged.

The present invention seeks to provide a respirator which is both easy to affix and remove. The invention also seeks to provide a respirator which can be comfortably stored on the person when not in use.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a respirator. The respirator comprises: a mask body ; a pair of attaching means located on either side of the mask body; and a detachable strap connectable between the pair of attaching means.

By providing a detachable strap, it enables a user to easily affix the mask to their head, by engaging the strap with only one side of the mask first, and moving the free end of strap in a horizontal direction across their head to engage with the other side of the mask. Furthermore, the strap can be first engaged to whichever side of the mask a user prefers, which facilitates ease of use for both left and right handed users.

Preferably, the strap forms a continuous loop.

The mask can therefore be hung loosely around the neck of a user when temporarily not in use, by engaging the strap with only one side of the mask. This allows the mask to be worn comfortably on the body. Furthermore, it alleviates the fear of damaging the mask which could occur if the mask were to be completely removed from the body.

Each attaching means comprises a channel for receiving a portion of the strap.

Each attaching means further comprises an engagement portion for retaining a portion of the strap engaged in the channel. £¢70744 The engagement portion ensures provides for the secure connection of the strap to the mask.

The engagement portion may comprise a first portion extending from one end of each attaching means and a second portion extending from the other end of each attaching means, each portion provided with an engaging means.

The engaging means may comprise a slot for engaging a portion of the strap.

Each attaching means may comprise a lower portion, an upper portion and a connecting portion integrally formed, with the connecting portion forming the channel and the upper and lower portions forming the side walls of the channel.

The first and second portions of the engagement portion may extend from the lower portion of the attaching means.

The attaching means and the strap may be moveable between an open position, in which position a portion of the strap can be freely moved in and out of the channel, and a closed position, in which position a portion of the strap is permanently fixed in position within the channel.

It will be appreciated therefore that for a left handed user the left attaching means may be continually in the open position, while for a right handed user the right attaching means may be continually in the open position. This facilitates ease of use of the mask by both left and right handed users, by allowing one portion of the strap to be affixed and removed from the attaching means of preference to a user during attachment and release of the mask from their head.

Preferably the closed position is when the strap is engaged in the engaging means.

Desirably, the respirator is disposable.

Brief Description of the Drawings <0 7 0 7 4 4 Figure 1 shows a prior art respirator; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the respirator of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a front view of the respirator of Figure 2 being worn by a user; Figure 4a shows a front view of the attaching means of the respirator without a strap; Figure 4b shows a front view of the attaching means when in the locked position; Figure 4c shows a front view of the attaching means when in the open position; Figure 5a shows a side view of the attaching means when in the locked position; Figure 5b shows a side view of the attaching means when in the open position; io Figure 6a shows a front view of the engagement portion of the attaching means; Figure 6b shows a front view of the engagement portion of the attaching means when in the locked position; Figure 6c shows a front view of the engagement portion of the attaching means when in the open position; and Figure 7 shows a view of the respirator being worn around a user’s neck when not in use.

Detailed Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying figures 2 to 7. Figure 2 details one embodiment of the respirator or mask 1 of the present invention. It comprises a mask body 2 and a detachable strap 3. In the described embodiment, the mask body 2 is cup shaped. It is also dimensioned to be placed over the nose and mouth of a user. The material of the body 2 acts as a filter. The filter media typically comprises many layers of non-woven polypropelene material. The molecules are large enough to allow air and oxygen to pass through them, but not large enough to allow the airborne contaminants, liquids and aerosols to pass through, thereby ensuring the user is inhaling contaminant free air. The body 2 is provided with a one way exhalation valve 4 at its centre. This valve enables a user’s exhalation to escape directly from inside the mask 1, rather than having to pass through the filter media, so that a user can breathe easily. The valve 4 also ensures that the temperature of the mask on a user’s face remains at an acceptable level. jfeo 7 0/*♦ A pair of attaching means 5a, 5b are located on either side 6a, 6b of the mask body and are adapted to retain the detachable strap 3. In the described embodiment, each attaching means 5a, 5b is positioned adjacent one edge of the mask 1 and in line with the exhalation valve 4. The composition of the attaching means is shown in detail in Figures 4 to 6.

In the described embodiment, each attaching means 5a, 5b takes the form of an Mshape. However, another suitable shape could equally well be used. The attaching means 5 may be made of polypropylene or polystyrene plastic, or any other strong material. Each attaching means 5 comprises three sections integrally formed, namely a lower portion 10, an upper portion 12 and a connecting portion 11. The lower portion 10 is flush with the mask body 2 and connects the attaching means 5 to the mask body 2. One edge of the connecting portion 11 is attached to the lower portion 10 (not shown). The connecting portion 11 then protrudes upwards so that its other edge connects to the upper portion 12 (not shown). The upper 12 and lower 10 portions of the attaching means 5 therefore together form side walls, with the connecting portion 11 forming a channel which can receive the strap 3, as can be seen in Figure 5.

An engagement portion 8 is provided for retaining the strap engaged in the channel 11 of the attaching means 5. In the described embodiment, it comprises a first portion 8a extending from one end and a second portion 8b extending from the other end of the lower portion 10 of each attaching means 5, as shown in Figures 4 and 6. Each engagement portion 8 is provided with an engaging means 7 in the form of a slot for retaining the strap 3 securely in the channel 11 of the attaching means 5.

The detachable strap 3 comprises a continuous loop of material. The width of the strap 3 is adapted to fit within the channels 11 of the attaching means 5a, 5b. In the described embodiment, the strap 3 is elasticated. The strap 3 may be made of latex, or be latex free.

The detachable strap 3 and the attaching means 5 work together so as to enable the mask 1 to be used with ease by both left handed and right handed users, as will be explained in detail below. This is achieved by the attaching means 5 having both an open and a locked position. In the open position, the strap 3 can be freely moved in and out of the ϋ?ί! 7 5J 744 channel 11, as can be seen from Figures 4c, 5b and 6c. In the closed position, the strap 3 is permanently fixed in position within the channel 11 with the aid of the engaging means 7, as can be seen from Figures 4b, 5a and 6b.

When the mask 1 is to be used by a right handed person, the user should place a portion of the detachable strap 3 along the length of the channel 11 of the attaching means 5 attached to that side of the mask 1 which will be positioned furthest from the user’s right hand when the mask 1 is being worn (let this be called the left attaching means 5b). At this point, the strap 3 is retained in the channel 11, but the attaching means 5b is in the open position. The attaching means 5b should then be placed in the locked position, by engaging that portion of the strap 3 located adjacent each of the slots 7 of the two engagement portions 8 of the attaching means 5b into the slots 7. This results in the strap 3 being securely engaged along the length the channel 11 of the left attaching means 5b. It will be appreciated that at this point one portion (end) of the detachable strap 3 is locked in place in the left attaching means 5b, while the remainder of the strap 3 is free, forming a free looped end.

The user is then ready to proceed to affix the mask 1 to their head. This is achieved by fixing the mask 1 in position over their nose and mouth, and then extending the free looped end of the strap 3 across the back of their head until it reaches the attaching means attached to the other side of the mask 1 i.e. the right attaching means 5a. The free looped end should then be positioned along the length of the channel 11 of the right attaching means 5a, so that the strap 3 is retained within the channel 11. ft should be noted that the strap 3 should not be further engaged in the attaching means 5a by the use of the slots 7 of the engagement portions 8 of the attaching means 5a. This is so that the attaching means 5a can remain in the open position, and consequently the strap 3 can be easily removed from its position within the channel 11 and detached from the right attaching means 5a when a user wishes to remove the mask 1 from their face.

Accordingly, when the mask 1 is being worn by a right handed user, one attaching means 5b is in the closed position, while the other attaching means 5a remains in the open position.

In order to remove the mask 1, a right handed user should release the strap 3 from being retained in the attaching means 5a which is in the open position, by exerting pressure on the strap 3 until it is removed from the channel 11. Once this has been achieved, only one end of the strap 3 will remain engaged in an attaching means, namely the left attaching means 5b. This will cause the mask 1 to simply fall from the face of the user.

The wearing of a mask by a left handed user follows the reverse procedure to that of a right handed user. Accordingly, the attaching means 5 which will be positioned furthest from the user’s left hand (i.e. the right attaching means 5a) should be placed in the io locked position prior to fitting the mask 1 to the user’s face. The free end of the strap should then be extended across the back of the user’s head until it reaches the left attaching means 5b, and the strap then positioned along the length of the channel 11 of the left attaching means 5b.

It will be appreciated therefore that for a left handed user the left attaching means 5b will be continually in the open position, while for a right handed user the right attaching means 5a will be continually in the open position. The mask 1 is then fitted to and removed from a user’s head by the attachment and removal of the strap 3 from the channel 11 of the attaching means 5 which is in the open position, with the strap 3 remaining attached to the other side of the mask 1, due to it being engaged in the locked position of the attaching means 5 located at the other side of the mask 1.

The mask of the present invention also allows a user to temporarily store the mask in a comfortable and convenient manner. This is achieved by arranging the mask 1 so that the strap 3 is engaged in the locked position in of one attaching means 5, while leaving the strap free from the other attaching means 5. As the strap 3 comprises one continuous loop, the mask can then be placed over a user’s head and let to hang loosely from the user’s neck, as one would wear a necklace or medallion, as is shown in Figure 7.

There are a number of advantages to the design of the mask of the present invention. It enables a user to affix the mask to their head by engaging the strap with only one side of the mask first, and moving the free end of strap in a horizontal direction across their head to engage with the other side of the mask, rather than having to affix the mask to their head by extending the straps affixed to either side of the mask over their head in a vertical direction. Furthermore, the strap can be first engaged to that side of the mask which a user prefers, so that both left and right handed users can easily affix the mask to their head. Accordingly, the positioning of the mask on a user’s head is made a lot easier.

Another advantage of the mask of the present invention is that the mask can be hung loosely around the neck of a user when temporarily not in use, by engaging the strap with only one side of the mask. This allows for the mask to be wom comfortably on the body. Furthermore, it alleviates the fear of damaging the mask which could occur if the mask were to be completely removed from the body.

The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. A respirator comprising: a mask body; a pair of attaching means located on either side of the mask body; and a detachable strap connectable between the pair of attaching means.

2. The respirator as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the strap forms a continuous loop.

3. The respirator as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each attaching means comprises a channel for receiving a portion of the strap.

4. The respirator as claimed in Claim 3 wherein each attaching means further comprises an engagement portion for retaining a portion of the strap engaged in the channel.

5. The respirator as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the engagement portion comprises a first portion extending from one end of each attaching means and a second portion extending from the other end of each attaching means, each portion provided with an engaging means.

6. The respirator as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the engaging means comprises a slot for engaging a portion of the strap.

7. The respirator as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 6 wherein each attaching means comprises a lower portion, an upper portion and a connecting portion integrally formed, with the connecting portion forming the channel and the upper and lower portions forming the side walls of the channel.

8. The respirator as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the first and second portions of the engagement portion extend from the lower portion of each attaching means.

9. The respirator as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8 wherein the attaching means and the strap are moveable between an open position, in which position a portion of the strap can be freely moved in and out of the channel, and a closed position, in which position a portion ofthe strap is permanently fixed in position within the channel.

10. The respirator as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the closed position is when the strap is 5 engaged in the engaging means.

11. The respirator as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the respirator is disposable. io

12. A respirator substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying Figures 2 to 7.